Barney's Blog

Blog archive

The Same, Old Proprietary Saw

When Microsoft announced plans to offer developers free licenses to use the Office UI for their apps, I was skeptical. First, I thought back to reporting I did a decade or so ago at InfoWorld, where Microsoft announced pretty much the same thing.

Then, I wondered how competitors would feel. Turns out it doesn't matter how they feel since -- at least, according to one ISV -- competitors aren't invited. Gen-9 was all set to support the UI for its data management tool. But after learning that rivals can't use the interface, the company ditched its plans because it "might" overlap with some Microsoft tools.

And a partner today is a rival tomorrow. So what happens when Microsoft decides to get into your market? Do you have to give the interface back?

Posted by Doug Barney on December 13, 2006


Featured

  • World Map Image

    Microsoft Taps Nebius in $17B AI Infrastructure Deal To Alleviate Cloud Strain

    Microsoft has signed a five-year, $17.4 billion agreement with Amsterdam-based Nebius Group to expand its AI computing capabilities through third-party GPU infrastructure.

  • Microsoft Brings Copilot AI Into Viva Engage

    Microsoft 365 Copilot in Viva Engage is now generally available, extending Copilot's AI-powered assistant capabilities deeper into the Viva platform.

  • MIT Finds Only 1 in 20 AI Investments Translate into ROI

    Despite pouring billions into generative AI technologies, 95 percent of businesses have yet to see any measurable return on investment.

  • Report: Cost, Sustainability Drive DaaS Adoption Beyond Remote Work

    Gartner's 2025 Magic Quadrant for Desktop as a Service reveals that while secure remote access remains a key driver of DaaS adoption, a growing number of deployments now focus on broader efficiency goals.

Most   Popular